Western Pole Kingdom, Celestial Sword Bureau, Satellite Surveillance Center.

"Director, we've detected a super high-energy reaction in the Xiangjiang region of the Dongji Kingdom. Someone's used a high-powered ion weapon, reaching temperatures of up to seven thousand degrees Celsius!"

"Do we have image data?"

"It's being transmitted."

Soon, One-Eyed Nick, who was sitting in the office, suddenly stood up, staring intently at the fiery red figure captured by the spy satellite on the screen.

"Vermilion Bird!"

The Four Great Divine Generals of the Dongji Kingdom, each one a National Guardian Level powerhouse, always attract attention whenever they act.

"Investigate immediately to find out what exactly happened. I want all the intelligence related to this matter, all of it, understand!?"

"Yes, Director!"

The federal employees under him, all trembling, began to frantically gather and organize information while performing frame-by-frame data analysis on the satellite images.

In less than half an hour, a detailed report was placed in front of One-Eyed Nick.

True or false aside, the speed at which things were done was genuinely fast.

"Director, this is the conclusion after the intelligence department's analysis."

"Hmm."

One-Eyed Nick picked up the report, reading it very seriously.

The intelligence chief stood beside him, explaining: "Based on our previous assumptions, Ye Qingzhou is the disciple of the Heart Evil Stream Rain Master, a Silver Level powerhouse codenamed 'Absolute Sword.' He killed Cardinal Morris in the Fashion Capital and seized the Philosopher's Stone, which should be the main cause of this attack incident."

"It seems the intelligence we previously received was not false."

Nick put down the report, rubbing his forehead.

The intelligence chief next to him also appeared relieved: "Yes, it seems Kabbalah intends to create a disaster in Xiangjiang to summon the Plague Knight."

"As long as they're not causing trouble on the lands of our Western Pole Kingdom, let these lunatics torment the Dongji people."

Nick couldn't change the fact that the upper echelons of the Western Pole Kingdom had completely given up resistance and chose to surrender to the Void Divine Dynasty, but he still wanted to protect his own country.

This is why he repeatedly redirects trouble eastward. Whether allies like Europe or rivals like the Dongji Kingdom, as long as it's for the Western Pole Kingdom's benefit, these could all be sacrificed.

"Keep a close watch on Kabbalah's actions in Xiangjiang, and report any unexpected situations to me immediately."

"Yes, Director!"

However, what Nick didn't know was that the real crisis was brewing right under his nose.

Western Pole Kingdom, Xinxiang.

This is the most prosperous international metropolis on the entire Blue Star. Though not large in area, it has a population of 8.6 million and has reached the pinnacle of commercial prosperity, serving as the financial and economic center for the Western Pole Kingdom and even the entire Western World.

An endless flow of money, like blood, is continually extracted from other countries and regions on Blue Star and funneled here, creating this distorted prosperity.

Behind the hedonistic lifestyle lies the deepest evils and darkness, while a disaster poised to engulf the entire world is quietly brewing beneath Xinxiang.

A horde of mice carrying a deadly plague began to pour out of the sewers, spreading the terrifying disease to other creatures.

All of this was happening silently, while the Celestial Sword Bureau, completely focused on Xiangjiang, took no notice of this abnormal situation.

Xinxiang, Ice Harbor Laboratory.

A few Plague School scholars silently watched as the "test subject" in the observation chamber struggled and howled before finally dying in agony.

"The mortality rate of the thirteenth observation sample is still too high. We should continue to enhance the transmission and infection characteristics, as this is crucial to the revival of our master and cannot be taken lightly."

"How is the fifteenth observation sample performing?"

"It's still only transmissible through bodily fluids. Maybe we could enhance the host's aggressive instincts? That might achieve effects similar to those in zombie movies."

"What's the use of that? Against firearms, zombies are just a pile of useless rotting flesh. Change it to airborne transmission."

The frail Anthony stood among the white coats, with plain features, blending in unnoticed on the street, but in the Ice Harbor Laboratory, he was the absolute core.

"Doctor, there's a call for you."

"Didn't I say that no calls should be taken while I'm working?"

"But, this call is from Mr. Arthur."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Anthony hurriedly walked to the office, picked up the phone, and spoke with extreme obsequiousness: "Mr. Arthur, this is Anthony."

"How is the plan progressing?"

"The most effective sample, number six, has already been deployed. I've also mobilized the Mouse Shepherd to accelerate the spread. I believe it won't be long before the entire eight million people of Xinxiang are infected with the new plague. This will certainly accumulate massive amounts of Plague Divine Power to summon our master to the mortal realm."

"Good, I'm looking forward to your performance."

After Arthur hung up the phone, a subordinate knocked on the door and informed him of bad news: "We've just confirmed that the Omen Bird is dead."

"Hmm?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Arthur was very dissatisfied: "It was just a feint operation. Why did it end in death? Was it a misjudgment in assessing Ye Qingzhou's strength by the intelligence department, or did that fool once again act on his own and complicate matters?"

To Arthur, the Omen Bird was a valuable tool. Kabbalah had invested a tremendous amount of resources in him, so how could he be allowed to die like this without any value?